Blue Fires Update: Monitoring And Precautions In Place - May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024, Ruidoso, NM: The Village of Ruidoso is currently monitoring the Blue Fires, which have the potential to grow in size due to red flag conditions over the next few days. Residents and visitors in the area will notice increased smoke and aircraft activity as authorities take appropriate actions to manage the situation.
Incident Details
On May 17, 2024, two lightning-caused fires [Blue Fires] were detected in the White Mountain Wilderness, part of the Smokey Bear Ranger District in Lincoln National Forest. The fires, located within the Designated Wilderness Area, have prompted a strategy of monitoring and allowing them to follow their natural course as much as possible.
Key Points:
Location and Terrain: The fires are situated in a challenging area, primarily composed of dead and downed trees, within an existing burn scar.
Current Size: Both fires currently cover approximately 0.5 acres.
Visibility: Smoke may be visible from Ruidoso, Capitan, and surrounding highways.
Management Strategy
The overall approach is to permit the low-to-moderate intensity spread of the fires, playing their natural role on the landscape. Recent precipitation, the fires' slow spread, and the rocky terrain support this strategy. However, measures are in place to protect private land, infrastructure, and natural resources.
Monitoring and Actions:
Ground and Air Resources: The fires are being closely monitored by both ground and air resources to predict fire behavior and spread rates.
Boundaries: Crews are prepared to take necessary actions to keep the fires within designated planned boundaries.
Stay Informed
An incident web link will be posted soon for more detailed information and updates to keep the public informed about the Blue Fires. Residents and visitors are encouraged to stay updated and follow any advisories issued by local authorities.
USFS Press Releases:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/lincoln/fire
On May 17, 2024, two lightning-caused fires were detected in the White Mountain Wilderness in the Smokey Bear Ranger District, Lincoln National Forest.
The location and terrain of the fires and their location within the Designated Wilderness Area have led to the determination to monitor them while allowing them to take their natural course as much as possible. Fuels in the area are primarily dead and down/dead standing trees and are located in an existing burn scar.
Both fires currently total approximately .5 acres, but smoke may be visible from Ruidoso, Capitan, and the area's highways.
Currently, the overall strategy on the Blue Fires is to allow the low-to-moderate intensity of spread to play its natural role on the landscape. Recent precipitation and the slow spread of the fires and rocky terrain have all led to this determination. Crews will take appropriate actions to keep the fire within the designated planned boundaries while protecting private land, infrastructure, and natural resources. The fire is being monitored by air and ground resources to help predict expected fire behavior and rates of spread.
For further updates and details, please visit http://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmlnf-blue-fire
Stay safe and informed!
